- Hardcover: 242 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; New edition edition (6 Feb 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747529531
- ISBN-13: 978-0747529538
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,455,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This novel is about a young boy's relationship with his father, Gordon, who is trying to adjust to life after his wife walks out. The delicate balance that Gordon manages to achieve in making a life for hiimself is suddenly jeopardized by the reappearance of his ex-wife.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
I am currently reading this book for the fourth time, such is it's sorrowful and realistic intimacy. For once, the single parent is the father, and Gordon Nash is a wonderfuly crafted leading man. The reader is transported straight into Tarent, Kansas, and is at once enamoured in the small town intimacy and suffocated by small town restraints. Perhaps it is wrong of me to say this book is heartbreaking as it is not a wholly sad tale, rather, it is a beautifuly realistic portrayal of modern parenthood, with gentle glances back to a time that the reader perhaps has spent looking back at too. This reader most certainly has. Dance Real Slow is, almost unbelievably, Michael Grant Jaffe's debut novel, and one that is certainly worth reading. Read it once and you may find yourself reading it again and again.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
a sweet read in parts
27 July 2000
Format:Hardcover
Though Jaffe's novel is far from perfect (weak writing in parts that sounds contrived, some plot strands that just don't work out), let's dwell on the bright side. He captures quite well the frustrations and joys of parenthood. Even the most patient parent occassionaly feels like smacking his/her child at times. Calvin is a cute 4 year old who becomes enamoured of the Portuguese Man of War that his grandmother sends him in a jar! In one of the funniest scenes in the book, they make a trip to a doctor friend who treats the decaying jellyfish and adds formaldyhide which prolongs the creatures jar life a few more days. The love interest part of the book works, although we never find out much about her, but the scenes when his exwife comes back just don't seem to hang together. There were times that the writing sounded "workshoppy" to me. In short, this novel is worth reading for some poignant moments and sweet scenes, but it has several weaknesses that interfere with the novel as a whole.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Mr. Nicholas Webber
14 Jan 2000
Format:Hardcover
Jaffe's story provides a wonderful example of how a thirty-something single father deals with parenthood, while at the same time living through the trials and tribulations of his new found life. Love, loss of love, security, and insecurity are all very important themes within this book. Jaffe provides a wonderful set of characters who play out the problems of life in a small town in Kansas (a slow paced backdrop which allows the reader to put into perspective the interaction which occurs between its complex protagonist and the rest of the characters within the novel). All and all, this story is well thought out, and it is very well portrayed. In terms of writing style, Jaffe has room to improve. Though he shows flashes of briliance, his narrative, many times, appears to be organic and repetitive. Written in the first person, there are a lot of "I's," and there is not a whole lot depth in the description of setting. In conclusion, this book excells in bringing to life the problems of a man trying to become a father, and lacks in literary maturity. Something this good writer will only get better at.
A REALLY GREAT BOOK!! (especially for single dads)
12 Mar 2012
I have listened to the unabridged cassette version of this book over & over again. It's really turned out to be my favorite book of all time since it hit home so directly. I discovered it a number of years ago at the same time I was going through a very similar situation. I think dads who have earned custody of their young sons (or daughters) will enjoy the entire content. It accurately explores the challenges of a father raising a small child on his own, the pain left by an exiting mother, and the hope & excitement of a new beginning as well as a new romance entering his life. If going the cassette route, I recommend the unabridged version read by Barrett Whitener.
Ironically the setting for this fictional story is only miles from my hometown, which undoubtedly added to its allure and uncanny similarities for me.
NOTE: This book was also created into a movie in 1999 titled "A COOL DRY PLACE" starring Vince Vaughn. As much as I adored the book, the movie was somewhat of a disappointment. Like many movies, it left out some of the good details found in the original story. But it was still fun to see the characters come to life on the screen.
Ironically the setting for this fictional story is only miles from my hometown, which undoubtedly added to its allure and uncanny similarities for me.
NOTE: This book was also created into a movie in 1999 titled "A COOL DRY PLACE" starring Vince Vaughn. As much as I adored the book, the movie was somewhat of a disappointment. Like many movies, it left out some of the good details found in the original story. But it was still fun to see the characters come to life on the screen.
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